Challenging Myself With Technology

My final vision project has presented me with two kinds of challenges: one is to do with the content of my project – what sorts of materials and in what format do I wish to share information with colleagues?  Certainly this requires research, problem-solving and thoughtful consideration, but it is a challenge that can be overcome with some time and patience.  However, the second of my challenges has much greater potential to frustrate – I’m talking about dealing with the sorts of troubleshooting necessary when learning about and implementing new technology.  How will my operating system interface with this new software I’m looking at?  How will this program be accessible via our district network?  Sometimes these issues are merely interesting little puzzles to be sorted out; other times you feel you are trying to fit a square peg in a round hole.

Using Scholantis, Sharepoint for schools has at some points been utterly intuitive, but at other points, highly exasperating.  For example, one morning I wasn’t able to log into the network at all – the internet wasn’t down, just the network.  Instead, I worked on collecting links and doing some of my other research.  On another occasion, I was working remotely (up a ski hill) and was not able to log in to my school district account from a different computer.  Again, I spent the time gathering information.  I now see the benefit of using Google docs to save my work as it serves the same function as the portal on our school district site, but does not rely on our network in order to work. 

For my project, I have been using some of the technology that I have been using in my classroom, but I have also challenged myself to use new technology as well. My site includes videos, links, pictures, quotations, and a blog and I created a wiki site for each of the following three topics: student engagement, technology troubleshooting, and blended learning.  I have spent a lot of time learning how to make a wiki, and then collecting relevant information to include in the site.  To add to the Technology Troubleshooting wiki I have had to do additional research to determine which programs our district permits and which ones are prohibited because they are American in origin.  For example, there is no point including information on how to use Edmoto and Animoto in the wiki when we are not allowed to use them.  Whether I get to it in this project or just in the near future, two programs I would like to explore further are Audacity and Movie Maker-both acceptable to use in our district. 

Creating a wiki site using sharepoint 
4 Ways to Use Audacity
Youtube video- Learn how to use Audacity
Youtube - How to use Movie Maker 

To overcome some of these obstacles I have relied heavily on YouTube videos and how-to sites on the district website.  As we are on Spring Break I have not had access to help from our District Technology teacher and have used other resources to solve my problems and answer my questions.  Although I have worked through many of my glitches, I have a few issues that I am going to get assistance with when I get back to school.  For example, I have not been able to figure out how to download a video directly to the website and I would like to know why it isn’t working. 

Despite the challenges, the experience of creating a resource for others to use has been inspiring.  This has been an enlightening learning experience that has improved my resourcefulness as a Teacher-Librarian.  It is my hope that my project is never really finished and that it continues to evolve as my staff learns how to use it and contribute to it in the spirit of collaboration.